Harris is accused of molesting the girls, ages 14 and 9, who had been in his care, according to authorities. The assaults were first reported in March 2010, said Col. John Fortunato, spokesman for the Sheriff's Office.

"This had been happening for quite some time," he said.

As detectives investigated the case, Harris was arrested in August 2010 on an unrelated charge of second-degree battery. He was accused of beating a 19-year-old woman, according to Fortunato and Jefferson Parish court records.

Harris pleaded guilty to the battery charge in January 2011 and was sentenced to four years in prison.

Sheriff's Office detectives eventually obtained a DNA sample that linked Harris to the rapes, Fortunato said. Investigators obtained a warrant for Harris' arrest in February 2014. He was still incarcerated on the battery charge at the time, Fortunato said.

Authorities transported him from the Jackson Parish Correctional Center in Jonesboro to be booked on the rape charges Monday (Aug. 18) after the completion of his sentence. He was also booked as a fugitive out of Kenner. No information was available about that charge.

Harris was still being held without bond Tuesday at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna.